Channel-forming device



April 16, 1929. l M. WATERS 1,708,988

CHANNEL FORMING DEVI CE Filed D'eo. 5, 1927 Z 7 jazef Zers Patented Apr. 16, 1929.

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MICHAEL WATERS, F SIOUX CITY, IW'A.

C-IrLNlll'EL-FORMING DEVICE.

Application filed December 5, 1927. Serial No. 237,627.

My invent-ion relates to channel forming devices of the type illustrated in my cepending application, Serial Number 181,435, liled Apr. (i, 1927.

An object of the present invention is to provide an arrangement in which the cutting device overcomes the resistance of the sand bar, with greater facility than the cutter of the prior device.

A still further, object is to provide a siinple, durable, and inexpensive arrangement, embodying,`v the features above set forth.

lliith these and other objects in view, my invention consists in the construction, arrangement and combination of the various parts of my device, whereby the objects contemplated are attained, as hereinafter more fully set forth, pointed out in my claim, and illustrated in the accoinpanying` drawings, in which:

liig. 1 is a plan view of the forward entremity of a boat, equipped with the device of my invention.

llig. 2 is a sectional view, taken ou the line 2 2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view taken on the line l of Fig'. 1. i

lig. l is a sectional view taken on the line the of Fig. 1.

The present invention involves the same general principles of construction as the device shown in my co-pending application and therefore only features of novelty are shown in the drawings attached hereto.

It will be understood that a barge provided with a capstan feed arrangement, similar to th at shown in my co-pending application and a source of motive power, which drives the drive chain 11, corresponding to the drive chains shown in my co-pending application.

A transverse shaft 12, which serves the double purpose of supporting the swinging,

cutting device and of carrying power to the cutters thereof corresponds to the shaft for the same purpose `shown in my copending application.

The shaft 12 is n'iountcd in four bearings 13, which are shown in Fig. and which are secured to the forward end of the `boat 10 and provided with removable bearing caps The swinging frame, which supports the cutter, includes two longitudinal side bars 15, two longitudinal, intermediate bars 1G, and an upper and lower transverse bar 1'?v and 18, respectively. rlhe bars 17 and 18 secure the bars 15 and 16 in spaced relation and the entire structure is suitably braced by diagonal braces 19.

- The ends of the bars 15 and 1G project beyond the bar 17 and these projecting; ends are provided with bearings 18 and 1S', respectively, which inclose the shaft 12 so as to swingingly mount the frame upon the boat 10. Removable caps 20 allow the frame to be disconnected from the shaft 12,

The frame is lifted and supported by means of cables 21, secured to the bar 18 and extend* ing through forks 22 of the swinging booms 23, corresponding' to the same elements in my co-pending` application. The booms 23 are provid-ed at their upper ends with bearings 24 and removable bearing` caps 25, by means of which the booms are pivotally and removn ably mounted upon the shaft 12.

The cutting; elements comprise two sets of closely spaced cutters 26, which are designed similar to drill bits, being provided with the pointed noses 27. flhe cutting` elements may he removed from their shafts.

The cutters 2G and 2G are carried upon spaced. parallel shafts 28 and 2S", which are mounted in bearings 29 and 30, on the bars 18 and 17, respectively. The hearings 29 and .30 are provided with movable caps 31 and 32,

'respectively, whereby the shafts 2S may be readily removed. @n the shaft 12 are secured a plurality of spaced, bevelled gears 33 and 33, which mesh with bevelled gears 311 and 311, respectively, on the shafts 28 and 28, respectively.

The chain 11 drives a sprocket 35 on the shaft 12.

The cutters 26 are provided with righthand threads and the cutters 2G with lefthand threads or vice versa, whereby any side thrust tended to be produced by the rota tion of the critters .in the silt of a river bed will be neutralized. The number of righthand threaded cutters equals the number of lefthand threaded cutters and they are preferably positioned with all of the cutters of one type on one side of the center of the machine and all of the cutters of the other type on the other side of the center.

The bevel gears 33 are reverscd,'relative to the'bevel gears 33a, Awhereby the rotation in the shafts 28 may be reversed relative to the shafts 28a, andthe cutters thereby caused to revolve. all of them, in aforward direction. By balancing the bevel gears against each other, end thrust upon the shaft 12 is neutralized, and no provision for end thrust need be made in the bearings 13.

The cutters 26 and 26a vare all spaced with their peripheries closely adjacent each other and the side bars 15. are positioned at their outer ends entirely behind the outer cutters. Thus, as the machine progress forwardly, fed by mechanism, shown inv my co-pending app ication, the revolving cutters will eat their 'way into the silt of the river bed somewhat as indicated in 2, the current of the water vserving toremove the layer of silt above the cutter which is not actually removed by the fcutter, and the channel thus being formed,

being the full width of the frame so that the latter will not scrape at any point against the silt of the river bed.

The action of the cutters upon the silt is substantially the same with the exception of the above noted improvements, as in kmy copending application, the cutters serving to undermine the bed of silt and the current of the river carrying thervlatter away.

' Some'changes'may be made in the construction and arrangement of the parts of my invention Without de arting from the real spirit and purpose o my invention, and it is my intention to cover by my claim, any modified form of structure or use of mechanical equivalents, which may be reasonably included within their scope.

I claim as my invention In a channel forming machine, a floating structure, a driven shaft carried by said floating structure beyond one end thereof, a cutter frame swingingly mounted on said shaft comprising longitudinal bars and transverse bars secured to and connecting said longitudinal bars, the longitudinal bars projecting beyond one of said transverse bars and being provided with bearings, journallcd upon said shaft, a plurality of bevel gears upon said shaft arranged in opposed sets, a plurality of spaced parallel cutter shafts arranged at right angles to the driven shaft, a plural-ity of bearings secured to said transverse bars, bearing caps secured to said bearl ings, the cutter shafts being journalled in said last mentioned bearings and removable upon removal of said bearing caps, a plurality of bevel gears upon said cutter shafts meshing with the bevel gears on the driven shaft and a plurality of helical cutters on the cutter shafts, the cutter shafts being positioned in vertical planes parallel to the longitudinal axis of the machine.

Signed this 26th day of November, 1927` in the county of Woodbury and State of Iowa.

MICHAEL VATERS. 

